Bugs That Break the Rules:   predatory caterpillars in the Genus Eupithecia Most Lepidoptera (moths & butterflies) caterpillars are vegetarians that munch on a variety of plant foods.  This is not the case for one group inhabiting the Hawaiian islands.  Caterpillars in the genus Eupithecia have adapted new means of acquiring food- predation.  This new take-over of a resource is common when species relocate and evolve in isolation from its common ancestors- these caterpillars had taken advantage of previously unoccupied niche- fly eating!

Bugs That Break the Rules:   predatory caterpillars in the Genus Eupithecia

Most Lepidoptera (moths & butterflies) caterpillars are vegetarians that munch on a variety of plant foods.  This is not the case for one group inhabiting the Hawaiian islands.  Caterpillars in the genus Eupithecia have adapted new means of acquiring food- predation.  This new take-over of a resource is common when species relocate and evolve in isolation from its common ancestors- these caterpillars had taken advantage of previously unoccupied niche- fly eating!

Posted 3 months ago
44 notes
Tagged: btbtr, evolution, bugs, caterpillars, moth, moths, caterpillar, .
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